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Taking a break Idrias went to get another dink, knowing the sweets would be out soon and she would need something to go with them. It was too close to the full moon to risk the hot drinks, for they most likely would have caffeine and she would be getting enough of a rush from the sugar, as the moon did make her more sensitive than norm. A glass of wine would be best, but she had been frowned at for taking one at diners, and this would make a second. Still it had a calming effect on her, and it wasn’t like it was the ale the boys had. She reached for the glass wishing that everything didn’t have to be debated. It was less than they would normally have in a evening, yet the added looks made it feel wrong. For all it she had been served wine with super for the last three years and always had a second or third glass when close to a full moon so really she had been drink less. It still felt like she was being judged and found lacking. She looked up and saw that she had indeed been noticed and smiled, for it wouldn’t do to look annoyed as she waited to hear what Lady Glenda was upset about. She hadn’t seen Fred so hopefully it had nothing to with being to close to him.

Lady Glenda shook her head, just what was that doing here? It wasn’t safe at all. Even that ridicules ambassador had the since enough to retire this close to moon rise. Yet there she was trying to get drunk. Where are its parents? I know they saw it was raised decently, if a bit to wild, they did teach it not to show off the sickness like this. “I didn’t expect you to feel up to joining us, where you clearly didn’t for lunch. Are you sure you are all right this evening? We wouldn’t want you taxing yourself.”

Idrias said. “I am well, thank you for asking. I am sorry that my absence caused you to be concerned. I was just attending a lecture at Royal. I thought my parents had explained. Father and a few of the Lord’s knew where I was, and asked me to pick up some books for them.”

Glenda shook her head. “I can’t see them letting you run around campus. It was enough that you were at the library, but to visit the book store, and to miss lunch. It has to be a bit stressful for you, child. Are you sure you don’t need to go rest?”

Idrias wondered how long she could make it without laughing, at least her mother was close enough to hear what was being said. “I have been visiting the campus for a few years and so know my way around. I had lunch at the campus café, I was just going to get a hamburger at the stand, but Ray insisted that wouldn’t do.  I see they are starting to bring the sweets out.”

Glenda said. “Yes it is getting late. Are you sure you are well, this is such a long night.”

Idrias hoped that she looked puzzled. “It is not that late. I am sorry but I do not understand. This is not close to the time we have been leaving the drawing room even. The night are short this time of year.”

Glenda looked outraged but before she spoke Alice did. “She is trying to point out that the full moon is rising, dear.”

Idrias said. “Yes, it should be. Why? Oh I see. No, Lady I don’t need to leave the moon makes me a bit more sensitive to my allergens but that is the only affect it has. I am sorry that I was causing you alarm, I didn’t even think of that. Third gen’s are not forced to change by the moon. I didn’t even think about it.”

Alice nodded a bit. “It was a bit foolish of us to just think that you would have remembered that. Don’t worry, Idrias doesn’t shift in front of people. She is not one that likes scaring others and does understand that such a thing is alarming. She has been fully in control for years now. Uris doesn’t affect her at all, now when Siriers is full she gets restless, but neither will make her change.”

Glenda said. “I don’t see how you can be so caviler about it. You clearly don’t see the danger. However it is yours to mange. It is hard to have such a burden.”

Idrias said. “I assure you there is no danger. I have not shifted when I didn’t mean to since I turned ten. I have never forgotten who I am. It is only the first generation that do so. I am sorry that you were scared, but there was no reason to be. Even if I should have lost control it would just mean my shape changed, I would still be me. Do excuse me, I want to get some of that berry pie before it is gone.” She offered a small curtsy and fled, knowing that if she didn’t she would be laughing so and that would make it worse. It was so clear that she wanted me to get upset at being called out. I wonder if people really do? I don’t see the point in it. I am a shifter, nothing is going to change that so why get upset about it? I don’t like that it makes things harder for my siblings, so I do my best not to call attention to the fact but it is a fact. She got her desert then went back to the others.

Sara said. “Just what did you say to get her that upset? I don’t think I have ever seen her so miffed in years.”

Idrias said. “Well she was trying to tell me that I had to be stressed and should go lay down. I failed to see why I needed to. So that started it, then the longer it went on the more worried she seemed to get that I just couldn’t understand why she felt I should leave.”

Sara started laughing and one of the guys looked at her then at Idrias. “I get the feeling I am missing something.”

Idrias smiled a bit. “What color are my eyes?”

He looked at her puzzled. “Gray, but what does that. Wait they are yellow now. How do you have yellow? You are a shifter. Really?” Idrias nodded. “So you mean.”  He looked over then back at her. “So that is what. That has to be what Lord Nelson was trying to get at with the talk of wares running wild. Father said he knew he was missing something, but didn’t know just what it was.”

Idrias said. “I don’t know if Lady Glenda was truly worried or just trying to get me upset. It might be about the Ambassador from Glacier, as he is as well. I fear though that I truly angered Lady Glenda by saying that there was never any danger, that even if my shape changed I would still be me. That was when she went red and I made my escape. I didn’t want to make things worse by laughing and fear that would likely had the Lady told me I was wrong. Truly there is no chance that I will shift. I am not affected that way by the moon. No one with a third generation mutation is.”

She had heard others walking over but hadn’t thought to look and see who, so flushed a bit when her father said. “I am surprised that you didn’t laugh, I fear that I was laughing, I am just glad she didn’t notice me. That was well done. Given Lord Nelson’s expression I don’t think he knew you were a shifter, for all I thought he was worried about you not the ambassador. Now though you might come in for some more. I just wanted to be sure you knew that you didn’t need to hide, but see that you do. Clearly there is some new rumor abut the warevector out there. I see why education is on the agenda again. Clearly more needs to be done. No one should be scared of shifters anymore. That should have been dealt with.”

Idrias frowned a bit and looked over at Glenda who was still visibly upset. “I don’t and won’t go out of my way to advertise that I am a shift, but I am not going to lie about it. I see no point in pretending to be something I am not. I took it as her trying to embarrass me and was trying to make it clear that it wouldn’t work. Do you think she might truly believe that I am a danger?” She looked troubled. “If that was the case then I should have had more care with my words, but surely it is reasonable to believe that she was taught about the virus. The way it progressed was included in my grade school health course.”

Iron looked and said. “I found no fault in your answers. There is no reason to think that she would be afraid of you. I don’t know just what is going on, but I will see what can be done. Just don’t let it get to you, whatever new stories are circulating, they are just that. If you want something stronger than that wine get it, send them to me if they complain. You don’t need to try so hard to please them. Now let them talk you into join the card game, and have fun.” He looked at her again, wishing he could tell her that she needed to accept an offer, but he had best let Alice or Sally. He nodded at them and left. Just what has been going around? He thought he had a good handle on the stories now though he wasn’t so sure. Just why would anyone in this day think that shapeshifters were a danger to them?

Sally came up to him and said. “You aren’t going to believe this but Missy just told me that I could go outsider or a shifter would tear me to bits and make me one of them. She was joking, but said that her cousins fully believed it. Her aunt and uncle lock every window and bar their doors when the sun sets on nights the moon is full. It is something coming from their church she thinks. I thought you might want to talk to Lord Over about it. That is the kind of thing that we don’t need becoming widespread. I hate to think of what that fear could do.”

Iron nodded and looked at Glenda. “Indeed, that needs to be countered if it can be. Religion is tricky, but we should at least be able to limit the damage. There is no harm in locking up the houses, but steps should be taken to see that it doesn’t lead to violence. Thank you for tell me. I told Idrias that she should let the others talk her into a card game, so hopefully, that will get her to hang out with them more. She is trying too hard to please everyone.”